Neutral Verses Stability Running Shoes

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Andrea

Ever since I started running 3 years ago, I’ve been in stability shoes. I was fitted for them and I found a pair that I loved. I asked before if I still needed them and was told that once you’re in stability shoes, you’ll never leave.

They’re like the Hotel California of running shoes apparently.

However, I’ve found out that this isn’t always the case and you can check out of that crazy hotel.

With my recent hip injury and journey through PT this summer, my therapist told me that my current shoes were providing me with too much stability. They were too restricting.

He explained that when shoes over stabilize, it can lead to hip injuries and IT band troubles. Interesting because I’ve had IT band issues training for my first half. I’ve had a strained hamstring. I’m currently now dealing with a hip issue. All on the same leg.

My right leg is a bit of a drama queen.

Slow Sunday

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Andrea

I was hoping to get four runs in this week but it was not to be.

I woke up with a killer headache and running with a headache is not my idea of a great time. The pounding of the pavement doesn’t do anything to improve the pounding in head so running was right out.

However it was amazing outside this morning. Very cool and with some high breezes that I’m sure is a side effect of Ms. Irene. It was so cool this morning that I had to put on long pants, the first time this season! And a light sweatshirt for a quick walk around the hood. Bonus, I got to wear my favorite running pants which are made by Adidas. They are so comfortable!

Best picture I could get of them. Consider it “artsy and dramatic”.

I had to get outside since there was so much fall in the air. Once I got out there though all I thought about was being home. You know it’s a rest day when even as you’re working out, you don’t want to be and you’d rather be home.

Buying Running Shoes

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Andrea

Buying new running shoes is a process and it is a big deal. For those that know me or have been following the blog for some time, you know that I am a huge proponent of going to a proper running store and getting fitted for shoes.

By proper running store, I don’t mean something like Dicks or Foot Locker. I mean a store that focuses just on runners and walkers.

When you go to a running store that is worth their salt, they will look at your shoes to see where the worn sections are. They will check the way you walk to determine what kind of shoes would best suit your needs.

They will want to know about any of your past running and injury experiences because all of this will help to make sure that you get the right shoe.

Buying running shoes isn’t something that will be quick. Not if you have someone who knows what they are doing and not when you take the time to slow down and really see how the shoes fit you.

New Kicks

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Andrea

A few weeks ago when I started this latest round of PT, the therapist told me that my current shoes were not working for me.

I was in stability shoes. I went to a running store and got fitted for them. I’ve been wearing stability shoes for the 3 years that I’ve been running.

The therapist told me that they were actually providing me with too much stability and that I really could benefit from a neutral shoe. Most neutral shoes provide some stability anyway (unless you go super minimalist) and that is all that I needed.

I waited on getting new shoes until I was up to running semi-regularly again. I’ve been bumped up to running 1.5 miles every other day and I figured this was a great time to go get some new kicks.

I got some earlier this week which was a process that we will discuss soon. Eventually I found a pair that fit my feet like gloves.

Triple Run

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Andrea

Last week was a turning point at physical therapy. I normally go on Tuesdays but last week because of other things going on, I had to go on Monday. Instead of being able to see the person I normally see, I had to see another therapist.

This was the best experience! She started the session with saying, “Let’s just check to make sure your hips and muscles are aligned right.”

And you know what? They were not! She did a few resistance moves on me to get my hips back to where they needed to be. I was amazed!

This is the first time someone has talked with me about hip alignment. I know my hips themselves are fine because I had Xrays done at the chiro. However, I did think that perhaps one of my tendons or ligaments around my right hip was out of place. So when I ran, it was being rubbed or irritated because it wasn’t in the proper spot. Especially since this is my right hip we’re talking about and it tends to be loose like that.

Two Steps Back

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Andrea

Last week I was given the go-ahead from my therapist to start running for a mile every other day. I did that on Friday, I ran a mile. It was hard, my breathing was off, and I felt like I was clawing my way to the end. My hip was sore after, not immediately but it did show up like a much unwanted visitor. I iced my hip and went about my day.

My hip stayed sore the rest of the day. It did ease up a bit and wasn’t quite as sore as it was right after the run, but it never went away.

The next day it was still sore and still hurt going up and down the stairs.

At no point was it so sore that I was limping or finding it hard to walk but it was still sore longer than I wanted it to be.

I had a suspicion this would happen, I honestly didn’t think I was ready to be clocking in a mile run when my hip was still sore after a 1/2 mile run. But per the therapist’s suggestion, I did what he asked.

Angry Hip

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Andrea

I saw my physical therapist last week for a check-in and general update. He gave me more exercises to do for the hip which are a bit taxing and cause my hip to be fatigued.

I now have so many exercises to do that I have to alternate days. One day I do ABC exercises and the next day I do XYZ exercises. It is nice to have a break from the same old routine. However two exercises I have to do everyday and one of them I detest greatly.

Meh.

I have to remember that it’s all to help heal the hip so I’m trying very hard to be patient and suck it up.

My therapist gave me the go-ahead to try running this past weekend. If I ran, I had to alternate between running and walking. The standard beginner running routine, run for a minute and then walking for two. Rinse, repeat.

I can be really bad at following directions and running for a minute did not appeal to me in the least.

Mobile Hip

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Andrea

Are you tired of hearing about my hip already? I realize that it’s the main topic of discussion but right now that’s all I’m dealing with. Currently my whole exercising world revolves around my right hip!

I finally got a chance to see the PT last week. It seems like that was forever ago by this point!

I walked into the session thinking that my TFL muscle was tight and needed released and possibly strengthened. (Because this is what I was told.) He said that my hip was actually inflamed because the muscle was weak. I had to walk up and down the hallway several times and he said that my left hip was dipping down when I stood on my right leg. This is because the right hip muscles are weak and unable to hold my left hip up.

Whew!

So I have training exercises that I have to do to build up that right hip. I did them there at the session and I was shaking by the end of it. They caused my hip to hurt so very much and actually zapped my energy for the rest of the day.

Still Hip

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Andrea

When last we left off, it was the before my PT appointment. I had a lot going on last week and so when I got to my appointment I was very much ready to get it started and get treatment started.

Except I didn’t have an appointment at all.

While the desk told me that I had an appointment on Monday they actually put it into the computer for Tuesday. No way could they squeeze me in and there wasn’t another appointment open till the following week.

I did a faceplant right on the receptionist’s desk. In my mind.

If you’ve ever dealt with a sports related injury, then you know that all of your focus is on when you’re going to be able to do your chosen activity again.

The last time that I ran anything longer than 3/4 of a mile was May.

Currently it is Mid-July.

For a distance runner, that kind of time off running might as well be six months or a year.

Straight Hip

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Andrea

I saw my sports doctor again last Tuesday to get the results of my MRI. That was a long wait, let me tell ya! Almost a week!

He said that my hip was fine and that there were no stress fractures which is amazing news. I was thinking the worst there for a while, I promise. After a few more palpitations and moving my leg around it was determined that I actually have a very tight TFL muscle.

It’s in the same area as the IT band and does a little bit of the same thing as the IT. However it’s located under the IT band, so it’s a little bit deeper down. It also covers all of the hip area, most especially coming in over the top of the hip bone.

That is where my pain is along with being right inside the hip socket area.

Cue the TFL muscle!

Not only do I have to go to PT but I have to see one person specifically! This is due to the fact that the TFL is tricky to work with and most people get IT band issues (been there as well) and not so deep as to affect the TFL. Well I’m not one to follow a crowd so it’s the TFL this time around for me.